Masters of our own Destiny...

Tonight I was blessed to have a young lady from the community over who is a new professing believer. We were able to spend a few hours going over some verses relating to the gospel and talking about God's sovereignty, works vs. grace leading to salvation, etc. She had just asked me what people meant when they said "I am the master of my own destiny," when we smelled an overwhelming amount of smoke. We were investigating the house when she finally realized that today was June 23, the day the island celebrates Hogueras de San Juan. She explained that at night, everyone lights big fires and burns anything that brings them bad luck (blankets, sweaters, books, trinkets... anything). Then, under the moon, they bathe themselves in the ocean to rid themselves of bad luck and negative energy. (All of this is also of course accompanied by a lot of drinking and carousing). What an incredible example of people vainly trying to be masters of their own destiny! We talked about where those people are putting their hope... in a sovereign all-powerful God, or in their own efforts to change their luck. In truth, despite burning all of your possessions today, can  you prevent a truck from striking you tomorrow? Can bathing in the sea prevent cancer from spreading invisibly in your body? While it was a great bridge to talk to her about faith in a huge God verses a puny self, it really broke my heart for the people here who live day to day without knowing their sovereign Creator.

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:15-17)